“I never told my dad why I quit hockey. He just assumed I was afraid to play again. I guess, I feared if I exposed Wyatt to the sport and he liked it, I might have to talk with my dad. I just wanted to let it go. Kind of selfish on my part, now that I think about it.”
Rosalie frowns. “I need you to know I didn’t suggest coming here so I could dig up ghosts. I just thought it would be fun.”
“It was fun.”
She doesn’t look like she believes me, so I shake her foot and grin. “You’re going to regret asking me for a lesson because I’m already planning new ones in my head. I loved coming here with you.”
“Even if it brought up bad memories?”
“They weren’t all bad. And I see my dad making strides to be better. It’s hard to know what to sift or let sit.”
“Dredge up the past or let it be?”
“Exactly. And I get grumpy about being forced to decide which is best. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. My question about the kids wasn’t a criticism. There are a lot of activities you could throw them into. Too many. Every parent’s conundrum.”
“But I should bring them here.”
“You should.”
“We should,” I correct.
Rosalie takes her foot back and scoots closer to me on the bench. “I’ll come with you tomorrow night to the anniversary party.”
“Are you sure?”
She rests her head on my shoulder. “No, I’m not sure, but I’m coming anyway and telling everyone you were irresistible and I risked my job to seduce you.”
My heart sinks. “You overheard my mom?”
Rosalie sits up straight and her mouth drops open. “That’s what she said about me?”
I rub the back of my neck. I really walked into that one, didn’t I? “I love you so much, Rosie.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.” She starts to laugh. “And yet, I’ve already promised to come. You owe me.”
I reach into my back pocket and pull out my wallet. Rosalie folds her arms, fully prepared for my bribe and not having any of it. Until she sees me tugging out a folded-up letter I’d written on the back of a menu from the restaurant. It’s a little worn from being carried around in my wallet. You’d think I pulled out a thousand-dollar bill the way her eyes light up.
Chapter 35 – When You Know, You Know
Rosalie
Kam flips through the clothing racks like a woman on a mission. I don’t blame her. We’re on our third store. This would be so much easier if I’d had time to shop online.
She stops and scrunches her nose at something before moving on. When I tilt my head over to look, she says, “cheap material,” and shoos me back to my row.
The search continues. I have two contenders on my arm. I don’t feel like I’m that picky. I just want something that looks good on meandlooks expensive. If it’s not actually expensive, that would be even better.
“So, to clarify, you’re hoping for a cocktail dress that screams ‘I’m a boss babe, but also, my boss thinks I’m a babe?’”
Kam doesn’t believe in using her inside voice. Two teen girls turn in our direction before linking arms and whispering things about me I don’t have time to worry about. We still have the matter of my hair. I have an appointment in less than an hour, ata place I’ve never been to. It’s okay. Whatever they do will be better than anything I could create myself.
“I trust your fashion sense more than mine, Kam.” I would have stolen something from her closet, but she insisted nothing was nice enough.
Kam deliberates for a minute before handing me a beige dress, and then I head into the dressing room for what will hopefully be the final time.
“I want to see all three,” Kam hollers from the dressing room hallway. “I’m getting good at these tricky zippers.”